Question mark about international prison rights observers in Turkey

A group of European prison rights observers visited Turkey on February 18 to carry out investigations about a new installed prison system, which is being criticized for systematical violation of the prisoner’s rights through heavy isolation torture.

A group of 7 delegates from 5 countries travelled to Turkey to visit among others human rights lawyers and associations and to collect direct information about the situation of the concerned prisoners.

A day after their arrival, on February 19, six members of the delegation were arrested in the streets and taken to the migration center for deportation, where they had to spend the whole night.

Today, in the late afternnoon it was confirmed that following members of the delegation were deported from Istanbul to their countries:

• Alejandra Matamoros Alexandrova, Lawyer (Spain)
• Andrea Lucidi, Journalist (Italy)
• Tatyana Desyatova (Russia)
• Dr. Nick Krekelbergh, Doctor of Bioengineering Sciences (Belgium)

• We were recently informed that Jean-Pascal Graziani is already in the plane leaving Istanbul after being menaced to accept deportation.

• Rossella Maraffino, an Italian journalist who joined the delegaton, was not among the detainees yesterday, but it was said that she was detained at the airport later. It is eIt is likely that she will be deported to her country as well and recently undergoes the deportation process. But no information is given to her lawyers.
• Still there are no news from Fernando Garcia, a Spanish citizen who was detained yesterday with the other delegation members.

Lawyers in Turkey have severely criticised the immigration law, which makes it almost impossible for lawyers to hold meetings or obtain information at the Repatriation Centres. The authorities refuse to provide any information whatsoever, effectively excluding lawyers from the process and leaving detainees without legal representation. It is emphasised that these obstacles can only be overcome through public pressure, international campaigns, or intervention via embassies.

So we demand immdediate release and information about the situation of the international delegation members Rossella Maraffino and Fernando Garcia!

The hindrance of international human rights observers to inspect the conditions of prisoners at S, R and Y “High Security Prisons” should be stopped immediately!